Melodious Warbler??? (1 Viewer)

[Chabi]

I took this photo the last weekend near my house in Ricla (Zaragoza-Spain). Light is very bad. I think that it´s a Melodious Warbler but.....Could be an Olivaceus Warbler??
Help please.

Regards from Spain
Javier Traín.

 

[Julian Sykes Wildlife]

Hi Javier
Looks good for Melodious Warbler to me, although the lights not brilliant. What did it sound like?.

 

[HH75]

Ola Javier,
Having just returned from your country, I have recent experience with both Melodious (very common) and Western Olivaceous (we had two, of which I only saw one) Warblers.
In my opinion, this bird is a Melodious Warbler. There seem to be yellow tones to the face, the upperparts seem too dark for Western Olivaceous, the bill length/thickness would appear to suit Melodious better, as does the less well-marked head pattern.
Regards,
Harry

 

[Ghostly Vision]

Any hint of yellow (which this does appear to show) will eliminate Olivaceous. The large-headed appearance of the bird and general structure, as well as the fact it is showing this well, also point towards Melodious.

HTH

GV

 

[Chabi]

Hello.

Julia I don´t remember the sound....but like you say me I still thinking that it´s a Melodious Warbler. Thanks¡¡

 

[CJW]

Err, isn't it an Icterine Warbler?

 

[Ghostly Vision]

Err, isn't it an Icterine Warbler?

Shouldn't be on range, Chris, and although I thought the Primary projection was a little long for Melodious, that's what swung it if I'm honest.

Does have the slightly more "cutey" Melodious look to it too, though.

Sean

 

[James Lowther]

Err, isn't it an Icterine Warbler?

It's hard to see but i think the primary projection looks pretty short.
Icterine is presumably also A LOT rarer than melodious in Spain.
James

 

[CJW]

I thought the prims. looked quite long and those pale fringes to the secondaries would give a whopping wing panel and the blue legs...
If that was photographed in Britain I would have be going for Iccy.

 

[HH75]

Hi Chris,
The primary projection is actually quite difficult to evaluate with any certainty on the pic, but it seems not to be long enough for Icterine. As Sean said, the head shape is also better for Melodious...as is the breeding range!
Harry

 

[garry1366]

And can it really be said to have blue legs????

 

[Reader]

I thought the prims. looked quite long and those pale fringes to the secondaries would give a whopping wing panel and the blue legs...
If that was photographed in Britain I would have be going for Iccy.

Intially I agreed with you Chris. The primary projection does indeed seem long. The Crown seems more pointed, something I have noted with Icterine's in the past. However the wing pattern on an Icterine would have been slightly bolder and this seems quite bland plus looking at the legs (and I know it is in poor light) would suggest brownish legs. To sum up I would just about go for Melodious.

I have seen Icterine in Spain and Portugal (well below what should be the crossover line) so that is no guarantee that Icterine's wouldn't be there.

 

[HH75]

Hi Reader,
What time of the year did you see Icterines in Spain and Portugal, and how many of them? I am not aware of their exact status in Iberia, but I would imagine that they are at best a scarce annual passage migrant, on a par with the status here.
Harry

 

[Ghostly Vision]

Bluish legs = Icky?

What's this one then? Title of photo might give it away....

Note on this Melodious the pale tips to the remiges. This is a juv, so it maybe different on an adult (which presumably the singing bird in the photo is), but the wing pattern on these pics shows as well as on the other.


GV

 

[sphinx79]

Can't see this as Icterine personally. The primary projection is far too short; Icterine's an altogether longer-winged bird. Melodious Warblers in spring can sometimes have faintly pale edging on the secondaries, too, whereas Icterine shows a very prominent pale flash. This bird looks fine for Melodious on that score too, imho.

Rgds

Greg

 

[Ghostly Vision]

Don't know if I'm getting mixed up here, as I haven't checked, but I believe a good "quick check"way of telling Icky/melodious in the field or from photos is to check whether the emargination falls in front of, or behind, the tertials.

In the original photo, it is clearly in front (i.e. towards the bill, not the tail), thus clinching Melodious.

Before anyone asks, I don't know where it would be on an Olivaceous, but with good views that should already have been ruled out on plumage colour.

GV

 

[CJW]

Iccy can and does show blue legs.

 

[Ghostly Vision]

Yes, Chris, my point was that bluish legs didn't necessarily i.d. the other bird as Icky, as Melodious can show that too.

GV

ps your pic shows a Melodious

 

[CJW]

Just trying to brighten up a boring day in work.

ps your pic shows a Melodious

Bo110x.

 

[Ghostly Vision]

Are you now suggesting the TESTES are a good way of separating the two species?

You are crazy

GV